Holy Eucharist

At every mass the priest is united to Christ.  It is Jesus who once again offers Himself through the priests hands and voice to His Father, transforming the simple offerings of bread and wine into His body, blood, soul and divinity.  As Catholics, who have received our First Communion, we have the opportunity to come forward and receive Jesus just as the apostles received Him at the Last Supper.  Then in many churches we are given the blessed opportunity to receive Christ’s Precious Blood from the cup of salvation.

In Holy Communion it is not so much that we receive Jesus into ourselves, but that we enter into full union with Him.  In consuming Him, He consumes all of us, blessing us, transforming us, healing us.  There is no moment when we are closer to our Savior and King.  That we have the opportunity to receive Jesus in Holy Eucharist that Jesus would choose to humble Himself and be willing to be placed in our hands or on our tongue is incomprehensible.  What love He has for us that He offers us the opportunity to come forward and receive Him.

We are richly blessed that we can receive Jesus in Holy Eucharist every day if we choose to.  There are countless masses said in every city of the world.  If we desire to go, we can usually find a mass time that fits into our busy schedules. 

Additionally, there are countless churches that have adoration chapels open 24 hours a day where we can go and sit with Jesus, offering ourselves silently to Him in prayer as He is truly present in Holy Eucharist in the monstrance.  These chapels with perpetual adoration are quiet, peaceful places where we can sit with Jesus, loving Him and being loved by Him, blessing Him and being blessed by Him, thanking Him, and listening to Him within our hearts and souls.  Adoration is a time of quiet contemplation of simply being with Jesus, adoring Him.  It is a time of entering into union with Jesus, a time to offer Jesus all of who we are, all that we need, and all that we hope for and in return receive the grace and strength we need to face the challenges of life.

We can rest assured that if we faithfully receive Jesus in Holy Eucharist we will have eternal life in union with Him, Our heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus has promised it, “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:58)  It’s up to us to do our part and attend mass and with a proper disposition to receive Jesus in Holy Eucharist so that He can nourish, forgive, heal, and bring us to everlasting union with Himself.

Prayer:

O my God, may I have a deep conviction that You are truly present in the Eucharist and Precious Blood and may I realize what an indescribable gift it is to receive You in Holy Communion.  May my heart be inflamed with love for You and may I desire to come receive You more frequently.  Amen.